Apparatus or tool for reducing the ends of boiler-flues.



I No..889,728. I I 'PATENTBDJUNE 2, 1908.

w. A. SKINNER.

APPARATUSOR TOOL FOR n-anucme THE Buns OPIBOILER FLUBS.

I p 7 APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 23, 1907.

IIIIIII/A v luummm THE Remus Pzrnu 00., WASHINmI. n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER AMBROS SKINNER, OF MACON, GEORGIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ROBERTAUGUSTUS MCOORD, OF MACON, GEORGIA.

APPARATUS OR TOOL FOR REDUCING THE ENDS OF BOILER-FLUES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER AMBROS SKINNER, acitizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Macon, in the county of Bibb and State of Georgia,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus or Toolsfor Reducing the Ends of Boiler-Flues; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

This invention relates to apparatus for swa ing the ends of tubes orpipes, more particu arly for reducing the ends of boiler-fluetubespreparatory to receiving the brass or copper ferrules or collars whichare usually fitted on such tubes where they enter the power-applyingmechanism of more or lesscomplex character, rendering them liable to getout of order; and, by reason of the eX- pensiveness of such machines,they have not been practicable for general use, especially in smallmachine-shops where one ordinary power-hammer is frequently relied uponfor performing various kinds of operations, and where llght portabletools or machines of a simple and handy character are demanded for useinterchangeably with the same powerhammer.

In view of the foregoing, the main object of my present invention is toprovide a thoroughly eflicient and practicable, but simple andinexpensive flue-reducing apparatus or device, conveniently adapted as alight portable tool for use with any ordinary power-hammer or otherrepeating power machine.

As a further object, my invention pro vides im roved means for mountingand operating t he reducing dies, whereby they are efiectively held inproper working relation Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 23, 1907.

Patented June 2, 1908.

Serial No. 394,153.

by simple expedients; and means whereby the several parts areconveniently removable, so that dies of different sizes may be employed;and so that new parts may readily be supplied when those in use becomeworn.

As a further object, the invention provides in combination with the diesan improved adjusting gage whereby the length of the reduction impartedto the end of the flue can be easily regulated.

With these and certain incidental objects in View, the invention willhereinafter be fully described by reference to the accompanyingdrawings, which form a part of this specification, and then moreparticularly pointed out in the appended clalms.

In said drawings, wherein corresponding parts in the different figuresare indicated by the same reference symbols: Figure 1 is a sideelevation of an apparatus embodying my invention, showing one form ofstock for securing the apparatus in rigid position. Fig. 2 is a frontelevation of a similar apparatus shown with its stock constructed upon abase-plate, in which res ect alone, the machine here shown differs "omthat shown in the preceding view. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation takenon line 33 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 4 is acentral vertical section of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, representingthe dies in closed position upon the end of a flue or tube which hasbeen reduced by the co-aetion of the dies thereon.

A single casting preferably forms the toolstock, comprising an uprightbar or standard 1 having at its foot a short forward rojection or toe 2,and at its head a thic overhanging ortion 3. This tool-stock, whichcarries t e co-acting reducing dies, is intended to be mounted upon anysuitable su port, as either on a stationary block, bed or bench or on atruck or other portable support when it is desired to quickly move theapparatus into and away from proximity to ,an automatic power-hammer orother repeating power-machine. In 0 erative position, the foot of thestock shou d prefera ly rest upon any appropriate anvil, block or othersupport to sustain the blow from the power-hammer, and the tool-stockshould be suitably braced or secured in position for which purpose thestock is shown in Figs. 1 and 5 made with a rearwardly-extending barmeans of screwolts 6 the said arm 4 and its leg 5 may be fastened to abench or on a suitable block to hold the apparatus rigid. Or, as shownin Fig. 2, the tool-stock may be erected upon and integral with abase-plate 7, adapted to be attached directly upon its bed, b ock orother su port by fastening screws or bolts entere through suitable hplesprovided therefor in the said baseate. P Referring to the reducing dies,the numeral 8 denotes the lower stationary die, and 9 denotes theco-acting upper reciprocatory die which is carried by the foot of aspringretracted stem, shank or plunger-rod 20 adapted to be operated bythe repeated blows of the power-hammer. Said dies 8 and 9 may consistsimply of flat blocks arranged one above the other on or against thefront face of the standard 1, and having their adjacent ends, whichconstitute the forming or swaging faces of the dies, made with co-actingsubstantially semi-circular seats 10, the counterpart of the shoulderedend of the fiue or tube 00 after it has been reduced, as shown in Fig.4; so that when the end of the tube is inserted between the open dies,it becomes reduced by the reciprocations imparted to the upper die bythe power-hammer, the tube be1ng turned around uring such operation, aswell understood. The thickness of the die-blocks 8 and 9 correspondsapproximately with the maximum length of reduction which it is desiredto impart to the flue-tube.

Behind the opening between the dies, seated in a circular cavity 11 inthe toolstock or standard 1, is a circular plate 12 of slightly lessdiameter than the opening between the dies when the latter are closed.This plate 12 constitutes a stop or abutment for the end of the fluewhen inserted between the dies, and provides an adjustable gage forregulating the length of the reduction imparted to the flue. Anadjusting screw 13 projects back from the center of the said gage-platel2, and is tapped through the tool-stock or standard 1 and has alock-nut 14 screwed thereon to lock the gage in desired osition. Whenthe gage 12 occu ies the l depth of its cavity 11, the front ace of thegage is flush with the front face of the standard 1, in which case theentire thickness of the dies would act on the end of the flue; but, asshown in Fig. 4, when the gage is slightly projected forward, itdiminishes the length of tube subjected to the action of the dies. Theback end of the adjusting screw 14 is shown provided with a squared orangular head for manipulation by a wrench.

The lower stationary die 8, resting on the toe 2 at the foot of thestock, is fitted in the angle between said toe and the face of thestandard 1, and secured rigidly by a single bolt 16 enteredsubstantially centrally through said die. Said bolt 16, whose head ispreferably countersunkin the front surface of the stationary die,extends back through a bolt-hole in the standard 1 and has a fasteningnut 17 screwed thereon. Thus by means of this single bolt, the lowerstationary die is secured rigidly and in such manner as to sustain theblows of the swaging or reducing operation, while, at the same time, thesaid lower die is readily detachable by loosening its fastening nut andwithdrawing its bolt, so that the die can be readily replaced either onaccount of wear or where it is desired to change the size of the workingdies. The upper reci rocatory die 9, whose vertical stem, shan orplunger-rod 20 works in a bushing 21 secured in a hole therefor in theoverhangingpart 3 of the stock, is by the guiding of its shank orplunger-rod in said bushing reciprocated in proper cooperative relationto the lower die, and it rides in its reciprocations against the frontface of the standard 1, thus guiding and bracing said upper die andpreventingit from turning. Sald upper die is further braced and guided,to prevent lateral displacement, bya coactlng keyand-groove connectionbetween the die and standard; which connection may be constituted by anysuitable key or rib on either one of said members working in a suitablekeyway, groove or slot in the other member: but, in the specificconstruction illustrated, a pin 18 is shown inserted through andprojecting from the back of the die 9 and working in a slot or elongatedhole 19 in the standard 1. The conjunction of the three simpleexpedients set forth, namely the guiding of the lunger-rod 20 in itsbushing 21, the riding o the die 9 on the front face of the standard 1,and the key-and-groove or pin-and-slot connection 18, 19, between saidguide and standard, assures a true and steady movement of the upper die9 in proper cooperation with the lower die, during the entire 0 eration.The upper die 9 is also, like the ower die, adapted to be readilydetached whenever it is desired to change from one size of die toanother. To accomplish this, it is merely necessary to lift the bushing21 out of the hole on which it is fitted and then withdraw the shank orrod 20 from the bushing and through the hole in the part 3, said holebeing large enough, when the bushing 21 is removed therefrom, to allowthe rod to be inclined sufficiently to withdraw the reciprocating die 9past the lower die 8 and remove it from the machine. The shank of thesame or another die of different size may of course be inserted into thehole and into the bushing, then the bushing may be put back in place,and the apparatus is ready for continued operation.

The bushing 21 has a two-fold function:

one whereby it serves to permit insertion or convenience.

withdrawal of the upper dieshank or plunger-rod to allow insertion ordetachment of the reciprocatory die, as above described; while the otherfunction is the usual one, namely to provide a renewable bearing for theplunger-rod, so that when necessity arises through wear of the bushing,it can readily be detached and replaced by another, thus saving the lifeof the tool-stock by avoiding direct contact with the plungerrod. Thebushing fits closely within its hole, but not tightly enough to preventwithdrawal. To permit its ready removal, as well as to insure keeping itin proper position, it is provided on its upper end with a collar orflange 22.

Surrounding the plunger-rod 20, between the bushing 21 and a collar orother abutment 23 pinned, keyed or otherwise detachably affixed on therod 20 at a suitable distance above, is a coiled expansion spring 24which normally holds the rod and its reciprocatory die in elevatedposition and retracts the rod and die after each repeated blow oroperation of the hammer. The upper end 25 of the stem or rod 20, aboveits retracting spring, is adapted to be rapidly struck by the repeatinghammer, or to be fitted in the tool-socket of the hammer or otherrepeating power-machine, and for this purpose the upper end of the rodmay be machined or turned to fit any particular kind or size of hammerthat may be in use in the shop in which the reducing tool is to beoperated.

In operation, the, a paratus with its support is moved up to t eautomatic hammer or repeating power-machine, and the upper end of therod or stem 20 of the reciprocatory die 9 is fitted to the tool-socketof the hammer or otherwise arranged to receive the stroke therefrom. Theadjusting gage 12 is set tolimit the length of flue which can receivethe action of the swaging or reducing dies 8 and 9, and the operatorthen places the end of the tube against said gage between the dies.Power is then applied, and the series of rapid blows imparted on thetube reduces its end, as shown in Fig. 4, the tube being revolved by theoperator as it is reduced.

It will be seen that the apparatus, while practicable and efiicient, isof very simple construction, so that it will not be liable to get out oforder, and its comparatively low cost will place it within the means ofmany small machine shops where an elaborate reducing machine combinedwith a special type of power-hammer would not be practicable. Being alight and handy tool, it can be placed on a portable block, truck orother carriage and quickly moved into position to receive the stroke ofa hammer, and removed therefrom at will, leaving the hammer for use forother purposes, which is obviously a great The utility of the toolisalso increased by the convenient provision for attaching or detachingthe dies, providing for the use of interchangeable dies of difierentsizes, to operate on tubes of difi'erent diameters, and providing forthe economical renewal of parts when worn or damaged.

The apparatus as shown in the drawings is arranged in an upright orvertical position, but of course it may be used in a horizontal or otherappropriate position, according to requirements. In this specification,and in the appended claims, the terms upper, lower, vertical, and otherterms of direction, will be understood as used in a purely relativesense.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States:

1. A portable flue-reducing machine comprising a tool-stock or standardhaving a proj ecting toe at its foot and an overhanging upper part, astationary reducing die seated on said toe and secured to said standard,a coacting reciprocatory die guided on said standard and having a shankor plunger-rod working in a guide-opening or bearing therefor in saidoverhanging part, a coiled expansion spring inclosing said rod abovesaid overhanging part and acting between the same and a collar or othersuitable abutment on said rod, and the upper extremity of said rod beingfree and adapted to be operatively engaged by or connected with areciprocatory powerhammer or other repeating power mechanlSIIl.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of atool-stock or standard having an upper overhanging part, co-actingfiue-reducing dies arranged on the face of said standard, the lower diebeing fixedly attached thereto, the upper reciprocatory die riding onthe face of said standard and having a keyand-slot connection therewith, said reciprocatory die having a vertical shank or plunger-rodworking in a guideopening or bearing therefor in the said overhangingpart, said rod adapted to be operated by a power-hammer or repeatingpower machine, and a spring acting on said rod for retracting the sameafter each operation of said power-hammer.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of thestandard, a stationary die secured thereto, and a co-actingreciprocatory die riding against the face of said standard, saidreciprocatory die having a shank or plunger-rod, said standard having anoverhanging part with a guideopening therein for said rod, and aremovable bushing secured in said opening, said rod working in saidbushing and thereby holding said die against the standard, thearrangement being such that the reciprocatory die with its shank orplunger-rod can be withdrawn by lifting said bushing out of its opening,the latter being large enoughto allow inclining the rod to move thereciprocatory die past the stationary die. I

4. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with thestandard having an angular foot and an upper overhanging part, astationary die fitted in the angle at the foot and detachably secured tothe face of the standard by a single fastening bolt, and a co-actingreciprocatory die guided on said standard and having a shank or rodworking in a guide-opening in said overhanging part, and means allowingdetachment of said upper die, whereby both dies can be detached forreplacement.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of thestandard, a stationary die affixed thereto, and a coact ing movable dieworking thereon, said standard having a socket in its face confrontingthe opening between the dies, a gage-plate seated in said socket, and anadjusting screw extending back from said gage-plate and tapped throughthe standard.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

' WALTER AMBROSVSKINNER.

Witnesses:

' R. A. WILLIAMS, Jr., F. W. WILLIAMS.

